Author Archives: mcseniorcenter

Aging Well June 10th 2014

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I came across this quote by Mitch Abom, journalist and writer best known for “Tuesdays with Morrie”. “It’s funny. I met a man once who did a lot of mountain climbing. I asked him which was harder, ascending or descending? He said without a doubt descending, because ascending you were so focused on reaching the top, you avoided mistakes. The backside of a mountain is a fight against human nature,” he said. “You have to care as much about yourself on the way down as you did on the way up.”

Isn’t that the way life is? You think the first half of your life should be the most difficult: school, careers, family and kids. But it’s really the second half that is the greater challenge: after you have reached the pinnocle of your life, trying to reimagine the rest of your life as you experience personal loss and body malfunctions. (Soon I’m going to be taking bets on which of my body parts will fail me next. And in the meantime I’m hoping above all hope my wife doesn’t treat me like an old jalopy and trade me in for a more dependable model!). 

But just as this second act demands greater attention and care, it is worth it. The view can be
 breathe taking and there is so much more to experience – as you discover new mountains to climb.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to the recent mailer and contributed to the Center’s Elevator Fund – from the twenty five hundred dollar check to the twenty dollar bills. Every donation and dollar counts. We are over half way to the goal of raising $104,000 which will be used as the local match when applying for large foundation grants.

The total cost of adding an elevator is estimated by Design Structures to be $312,000. And some folks have asked, “Isn’t that pretty expensive for an elevator?” Well, yes and no. It is a lot for just an elevator, but to accommodate the new elevator without losing space while also enclosing the outside stairs, the most cost effective solution is to expand out the front of the building. Fortunately, the roof line already extends out, so all that is needed is to frame in the front of the Center that is covered. The elevator will be inside near the northwest corner of the building adjacent to the stairs. The Nu-2-U shop, lounge and receptionist area will be reconfigured and a men’s/women’s handicap restroom will be added. We hired Chris Haffner, a local architectural engineer, to make sure all the pieces fit together and we meet all the building codes and accessibility requirements.

With your continued support, we hope to conclude the fundraising campaign by next fall so we can apply for grants to complete this vital addition to the Center.

There is still time to register for the June 16th and 17th AARP Smart Driver Safety Class led by award winning instructor Dennis Davis. The updated curriculum incorporates new understandings about the aging, or should I say “maturing brain”, and how it affects our driving abilities. The class is both informative and entertaining – and cookies are included. The class is on the third Monday and following Tuesday from 9:00 – 12:00 of most every month. The cost is $20.00 or $15.00 for AARP members. Call the Center to sign up.
“For the Good Times” will be playing their good time music at the Center on Tuesday June 17th. Music starts at 7:00, and donations for the Center and the band are appreciated.
Many folks remembered Adams Blackjack, the world’s first flavored chewing gum. (And what Jerry Phillips described as almost as tasty “as the fresh tar when The Dalles was in the process of paving streets after WWII”.) But the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Patty Geiger.
This week “Remember When” goes back to Hollywood. Who was one of the most popular American actors in the 50’s, and starred in Sunset Boulevard, Picnic and Stalag 17 for which he won an Academy Award? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of this actor as best man at Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s wedding in 1952.

Well, it has been another week trying to keep the car on the road while driving from the backseat. Until we meet again, there is no point in getting discouraged – it just doesn’t get you anywhere.

“Listen, if you start worrying about the people in the stands, before too long you are up in the stands with them.” Tommy Lasorda Baseball Manager

AGING WELL June 3rd 2014

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It is already a new month; summer is upon us and we’ll soon be complaining about the heat – having forgotten our wish for hotter days during the past cold winter months. And it is time to turn another page on your Passport to Happiness calendar to June and the month’s focus on Cardiovascular Health.
An important component of Cardiovascular Health is treating and most importantly preventing high blood pressure – which is considered a reading of 140/90 or higher. High blood pressure can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. And because it usually has no symptoms it is often referred to as the “silent killer”. The Center for Disease Control estimates that 31% of Americans have high blood pressure and 2 out of 3 adults over 65.  
One approach to reducing high blood pressure, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, is by following the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet which over time can reduce your systolic blood pressure by seven to twelve points. That can make a significant difference in your health risks. The DASH diet is a lifelong approach to healthy eating that encourages eating vegetables, fruit and low-fat dairy foods; and moderate amounts of whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts.
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The DASH diet also includes reducing the use of sodium. But what are the recommended levels of sodium for a day? In a typical day you might consume around 3,500 mg of sodium. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests keeping your daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg a day.  And the American Heart Association recommends no more than 1,500 mg for all adults. If you aren’t sure what sodium level is right for you, talk to your medical provider. 
As you make your food choices, you may want to know the Top Ten sources of sodium for folks 71+ years old. They are: breads and rolls; cold cuts and cured meats; soups; meat and mixed dishes; sandwiches; biscuits, muffins, quick breads; pasta mixed dishes; poultry; cheese; and pizza.
If you want to stick to a low-sodium diet, check the Nutrition Facts label and as a rule of thumb avoid anything that has more than 5% sodium per serving. And fortunately, you can retrain your taste buds to appreciate and enjoy good food with less sodium and live a healthier life. Although I do miss that Friday night Digiorno Pizza.

For the Tuesday Lecture on June 10th, I will further discuss the DASH diet and ways to reduce you sodium use. Bring your success stories of ways you have discovered to reduce your sodium intake.

And for the rest of June, before the Lecture series takes a break during July and August, there won’t be a Lecture on the 17th (there just isn’t any room with the Zumba Gold class led by Marsha Morrison downstairs and the AARP Smart Driver Class upstairs on the third Tuesdays). And on the 24th, Jim Petrusich, local audiologists at MCMC, will discuss the whats, whens and whys of hearing loss.

Martin and Friends will be playing at the Center on Tuesday June 10th. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00 and everyone is welcome.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is a Beanie or Freshman Cap as Bill Van Nice remembers them being called. (But the winner of a Saturday Breakfast has got to be Don McAllister who still has his green beanie he wore as a freshman at Gonzaga University.)
This week’s Remember When” question is about a unique chewing gum with a colorful history.

In 1869, after buying a ton of chicle from exiled former Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Thomas Adams boiled a small batch of the chicle in his kitchen creating chewing gum which he later started producing. Then in 1884, he began adding licorice flavoring creating the first flavored gum in the U.S. What was the name of this gum that sold well into the 1970’s? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off with five shares of Mondelēz International, Inc. an American multinational confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate.

Well, it has been another week trying to remember which came first the chicken or – the – uh – pig? donkey? The whatchamacallit!  Until we meet again, keep walking and try to stay on the sunny side of the street.

“It’s possible to own too much. A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure.” Lee Segall

Aging Well May 27th 2014

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It’s ironic, but just this morning before writing this column, I was distracted from my regular routine and I couldn’t remember if I had taken my diuretic pill. I decided I had, but what if I hadn’t, and missed a day. Or worse yet, what if I had taken my pill, but decided I hadn’t and doubled my dose? Both could have serious consequences. But there are a number of things you can do to remind yourself to take them at the right time and in the right amount.

First, as I mentioned last week, know your medications. Make sure you know how to use them correctly, including what to do if you miss taking your pill or accidentally double your dose. And what are the side effects.

Second, set a daily routine. Take your medications at the same time and place every day. And know whether you have any flexibility in when you can take them or need to be taken at a specific time.

Third, create a system of reminders that works for you. You can use a daily or weekly checklist, sticky notes, alarm clocks, or a pill box organizer. Phillips Lifeline offers a medication dispensing service with audio reminders for a monthly fee. And if you are more technologically savvy, you can even use smartphones to receive texts and emails as reminders. (For more information visit the Script Your Future Medication Awareness campaign at www.scriptyourfuture.org.)

Fourth, there is nothing wrong in asking for help. Find out from your healthcare professional if there is an easier way to take all of your medications such as taking take fewer pills on fewer occasions? Ask a friend to help you figure out a system to help remember your medications. And if you have difficulty remembering to take your medications, tell your healthcare professional. She may be able to offer other solutions.

It is important to take the proper dosage at the proper time for the length of the prescription. And as I mentioned last week, if you would like to learn more about ensuring safe and appropriate use of medications check out the website Medication Use Safety Training (MUST) for Seniors™ at http://www.mustforseniors.org/.

At the Center every Thursday and Saturday Nights, starting at 6:00 PM, you can play Bingo the classic American game of chance. And this coming Saturday night May 31st, there will be free pizza from 4:30 – 5:30. And the payout for the last game is up to $1000 if you black out in 61 numbers. (And at 61 numbers there is a darn good chance someone is going to win it!)  So stop by the Center on Saturday night for free pizza and a chance to win some big money.

The speaker for the next 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on June 3rd will be Tim Willis, manager of the local Habitat ReStore Store. And if you don’t know, the store is now open from 9:00 – 6:00 on Tuesdays through Fridays and from 9:00 – 5:00 on Saturdays. And they are particularly looking for volunteers during the busy summer months.
The Strawberry Mountain Band will be playing their foot stomping country music at the Center on Tuesday June 3rd. Music starts at 7:00 and there will be Pie and Ice Cream for sale and donations for the band are appreciated.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is saddle shoes – popular in the 50’s and worn by both men and women including Elvis Presley in the movie Jailhouse Rock. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Bill Van Nice.)

On many college campuses during the 50’s and early 60’s, it was a tradition for freshmen to wear this kind of cap including at Purdue University when I was a freshmen in 1966.  What was the name for a tight fitting brimless cap made from triangular sections of cloth joined by a button at the crown, and seamed together around the sides? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off at the Center with a one of these caps that has a propeller attached to the top as worn by Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent’s friend.

Well, it has been another week trying to tap dance my way off the stage. Until we meet again, as the wise farmer once said “Timin’ has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.”

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” Carl Sandburg

Aging Well May 20th 2014

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It is said if you’re over 65 and need a conversation starter, bring up the subject of medications. It is a safe bet because five out of six persons 65 and older are taking at least one medication and almost half take three or more.
With the advancement in pharmaceutical research, the lives of older adults have been improved and many have been saved. But there are also significant risks, so it is important you manage them safely.   
Some steps you can take are common sense: keep an up to date list of your medications and supplements with your health care team; follow your doctor’s instructions; take only your own medications and keep them in their original containers.
But it is also important to know your medications.  
Which means to ask questions – and make sure you understand the answers. (I try to bring my wife with me so I have another set of ears – and a better memory.) Know the name of your medications and how they look so you will recognize if the pharmacist gives you something different.
Know how to use the medications correctly. Read the directions on the label and any other information you receive. Ask if there other medicines, foods, or activities that you should avoid while using the medications? What to do if you forget a dose? When you should take the medication and how long between each dose?
And know about possible side effects.  Older adults are more medically complex. And for adults over the age 65 who take five or more medications, about one-third experience a serious adverse effect each year. So ask what side effects to expect and which ones are serious. And since some side effects may bother you initially, but improve over time, ask when you should contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have certain side effects?
By knowing your medications, you will know what to expect, what to avoid and are more likely to use them correctly. Next week I will share with you tips on how to make sure you take your medications on their prescribed schedule. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about ensuring safe and appropriate use of medications an excellent website is Medication Use Safety Training (MUST) for Seniors™ at http://www.mustforseniors.org/.
Nehemiah Brown is performing once more at the Center on Friday May 23rd from 7:00 – 9:00 sponsored by The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center. Everyone has enjoyed his previous performances, and for $3.00 per person, you can’t beat the price.
The speaker for the next 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on May 27th will be Andy Roof who will be discussing “Living with Persistent Pain”. Andy is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist with a master’s degree in physical therapy. He works at Water’s Edge where he also teaches the “Explain Pain” class which helps patients understand the role pain plays in their lives and bodies and how to treat pain through a variety of treatment methods including lifestyle changes, appropriate exercise and education on the physiology of pain. This is another MCMC presentation you won’t want to miss.
Truman will be performing his Country Gold at the Center on Tuesday May 27thstarting at 7:00 PM. There will be Pie and Ice Cream for sale for those with a sweet tooth. Bring your dancing shoes and enjoy an evening of fine country music.
It is not Caster Oil or Geritol, two of the answers I received for last week’s “Remember When” question. But it was Hadacol: the 1950’s product marketed as a vitamins supplement although in the dry counties in the South if was known to be served in a shot glass because of its 12% alcohol content. (And the winner is Karl Vercouteren who remembers the jump rope rhyme from the 50’s “HADACOL the doctor/ HADACOL the nurse, HADACOL the undertaker/ driving the hearse”.)
But this week it is clothing styles. What is the name of the style of shoe, most common in black and white, popular in the 50’s, worn by both men and women, and has a distinctively shaped decorative panel placed mid foot – which gives the style of shoe its name? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop a pair off with your favorite poodle skirt. (I wear a size 10 – and that’s the shoe not the poodle skirt!)   
Well, it has been another week trying to light a fire on another windy day. Until we meet again, no matter whether the sun shines or not, life goes on.
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” James Dean

Aging Well May 13th 2014

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I don’t think any of us need to be reminded about the importance of physical activity and exercise – which is the focus for the month of May in your Passport to Happiness Calendar. But for many folks the challenge is how do you get going, keep going and know how your “going” is doing? A great place to start is the website Go4Life at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life. It is created by the National Institute on Aging and offers simple everyday fitness ideas on staying physically active at any age: how to get started; setting goals and a sample of exercises focusing on endurance, strength, balance and flexibility.
But the site also suggests to get the most out of your exercise it needs to be a basic part of your life.  But how?
Start by making it a priority. You might want to take a walk first thing in the morning. Or in my case, every morning I practice my balance and flexibility – by trying to put on my pants, standing up, one leg at a time. And sometimes it’s not a pretty picture.
Make it easy. That may seem counter intuitive, but throw away the athletes’ axiom “No Pain No Gain”. Start simple and slow.  And then try pushing yourself, but know your limits. Remember you are exercising the body you have – not the one you once had.
Make it social. Do you have an exercise buddy? Someone to walk and talk with. Or a dancing partner? Consider joining an exercise group with a friend.
Make it fun. Because the best activity is the one you enjoy doing. If you enjoy the outdoors, try biking or hiking. Listen to music while you walk; read Zombie books while on the treadmill.
And make it happen. There are many places and ways to be active. If you can, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or when you go shopping, park a little further away; and when inside, walk every aisle in the store (although that might be expensive – finding items you hadn’t thought of buying!) 
Decide to make physical activity a daily part of your life by making it a priority, easy, social and fun. It is never too late to start doing something – which is always better than nothing.
It’s back to the Center’s regular Saturday breakfast schedule: third Saturdays from 8:00 – 9:30. This coming Saturday’s production is sponsored by Green Home Construction and stars foxy French Toast with a supporting cast of screamingly scrumptious scrambled eggs, and buffo bacon, as well as fruit and beverage. The cost is $5.00 for adults, and $3.00 for children 12 and under. All ages are welcome.  
Are you getting the hang of reading the Center’s music announcement backwards? Let’s work the grey cells for another week before a break.  
Ta eht Retnec no Yadseut, Yam ht02, “Rof Eht Doog Semit” lliw eb gniyalp rof ruoy gnicnad dna gninetsil tnemyojne. Ereht lliw eb eip dna Eci maerc rof elas; dna a noitanod nac lliw eb tes tuo rof eht dnab. Cisum strats ta 7:00, sdne yb 9:00 dna enoyna ohw sliame em lliw eviecer eerht eerf tliuq elffar stekcit.
The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Hedda Hopper: gossip columnist who wrote Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood for the Los Angeles Times starting in 1938. (And the winner of five quilt tickets is Terri Dean.)
While attending the Wasco County Pioneers Annual gathering, I was reminiscing with Del Hendrickson about a product he remembered in the 50’s marketed as a vitamin supplement that would give you “Pep, Strength and Energy of Buoyant Health” – although the 12% alcohol content labeled as a “preservative” may have had something to do with it.  It was heavily marketed including traveling medicine shows through the south featuring such celebrities as Hank Williams, Bob Hope, and James Cagney. And when Dudley LaBlanc, the entrepreneur who made millions selling this elixir, was asked how he came up with a name for the product he answered “Well, I hadda call it something.” What was the name of this cure-all?  E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a bottle of Min-So-Late made by the Happy Day Company.
Well, it has been another week trying to pick up the pieces before they fall through the cracks. Until we meet again, if you find the front door locked, climb in through the bathroom window.  
“You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it.”  Jimmy Dean

AGING WELL May 6th

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Today it is a little bit of this and a little bit of that: something that just might tickle your fancy. So let’s start by getting our hands dirty with a little bit of gardening news.
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.” Alfred Austin
If you enjoy working in the garden, and I know there are many of you because I’ve been hearing stories of stiff joints and tired bodies, the Spring 2014 edition of the excellent “Garden Highlights” is now available by email. The Garden Highlights is produced by Marty Miller, an OSU Lifetime Master Gardener™, and includes all the local gardening tips and news that you need to know including water-wise gardening, plant clinics and raised beds. It is in full color, at no cost and emailed quarterly. If you are interested, all you have to do is email Marty at gardenhighlights@hrecn.net and he will put you on the email list. And if you don’t have access to email, we can make a copy of “Garden Highlights” for you at the Center.
And if you enjoy fine and unique gardens, Lauren Kraemer, who among her many responsibilities at OSU Extension is an instructor for Family and Community Health, sent me a notice for the Mid-Columbia Family and Community Education Study Groups’ 2014 Spring Tour, “Portland’s Glorious Gardens Tour”. I’ll just whet your appetite by sharing some snippets from the spring tour flyer: “stunning”, “Lan Su Chinese Garden, Rose Garden, and Japanese Garden”, “touring and shopping”, “lunch in the Pearl District”, “VooDoo doughnuts” and “detailed information about the horticulture, history, and other facets of each garden”. Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn’t it. It costs $55 for FCE Members and $60 for non-FCE members which includes all costs for transportation, entry fees, lunch, gratuity, & membership for non-FCE members. The trip is on Thursday May 22nd, 2014 and you will need to arrive at the Best Western Hood River Inn by 8:00 AM to be picked up and you will return by 5:00 PM. Pre-paid registration is required and must be received by May 15th For more information and to register contact the Hood River County Extension Office at 541-386-3343. But if you are interested, don’t dilly-dally. There is only 16 spots available and I am not sure how many are left.
If you missed Julie Reynolds’ presentation in February at the Original Wasco County Courthouse titled “Close Encounters: Wasco County Residents Remember the Rajneeshees” this is your lucky day. Actually, next Tuesday will be your lucky day because that is when she will again share what she learned from her interviews with a wide range of folks who were touched by the Bhagwan saga. See you next Tuesday May 13th at 11:00 at the Center for this fascinating presentation about a unique piece of Wasco County history.
Now if I remember correctly, I let you off easy the last two weeks – no head scratching trying to decipher the Center’s music announcement.  So this week it is back to exercising your prefrontal cortex (that part of your brain used for problem solving, emotions and complex thought.)
Ta eht Retnec no Yadseut, Yam ht31, Nitram dna Sdneirf lliw eb gniyalp rieht yrtnuoc dna nretsew skcil rof ruoy gnicnad dna gninetsil tnemyojne. Ereht lliw eb eip dna Eci maerc rof elas dna gnirb a wef skcub ot troppus eht dnab. Cisum strats ta 7:00, sdne yb 9:00 dna enoyreve si emoclew.
The answers to last week’s “Double your Pleasure” questions were the Rebel Without a Cause star James Dean and “Big Bad John” Jimmy Dean. (And the winner of five quilt tickets is Vicki Fricano.) But was that too easy?
If so this week’s Remember When question should be a little more difficult.  Who was one of America’s best-known gossip columnists; who started working for the Los Angeles Times in 1938 and was considered much more vicious and unforgiving than her arch rival Louella Parsons, with whom she competed with for the title “Queen of Hollywood”? For five free Quilt Raffle tickets, e-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a large showy women’s hat of your choice.
Well, it has been another week trying to remember to pick up my feet. Until we meet again, if you learn to see without fear, you will find incredible opportunities.  

“A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.” Doug Larson

Aging Well April 29th 2014

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Senior Living April 29th 2014
I think most of us have realized that we won’t live forever. But do your loved ones and health care providers know what kind of care you want at the end of your life? Because according to the National Institute on Aging “more than one out of four older Americans face questions about medical treatment near the end of life but are not capable of making those decisions.”
Two tools that you can use to express your wishes and have better control over your care and treatment in medical situations when you are unable to communicate are an Advance Directive and a POLST. I will give a quick explanation of each but for more information, PK Swartz will discuss both as well as organ and tissue donations at the Center’s next 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on May 6th. Or you can go online by googling Oregon Advance Directives or Oregon POLST.
The POLST and Advance Directive are not the same thing but complement each other. Both are voluntary, and both give you control over your advance care planning if you are unable to speak for yourself.
But there are several differences.
Advance Directive is recommended for anyone 18 and older; is a legal document that goes into effect only if you are incapacitated and unable to speak for yourself; and guides inpatient treatment decisions by telling the health care team at the hospital what you generally want or don’t want.
Advance Directive allows you to appoint a Health Care Representative who can make decisions for you such as whether to withhold or remove life support, food, or hydration.
But it does not guide Emergency Medical Personnel. And should not be confused with a general Durable Power of Attorney, which is for financial affairs, and does not include authority to make health care decisions.
A POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) is not for everyone, but for persons with serious illness — at any age; is a medical order completed with and signed by your health care professional to assure you receive the care you want; and when it is made available, a POLST guides actions by emergency medical personal and inpatient treatment decisions. And since a POLST is a medical order, a copy is kept in your medical records so it is easily located during an emergency.
In addition to helping you make decisions in advance to insure you receive the treatment and care you want, another important benefit that you should not be overlooked is an Advance Directive and POLST may take some of the burden off of your loved ones during difficult medical situations.
The Center will hold its annual Rummage Sale on the third weekend in June, but in the meantime the Center needs to make room to store all the donated items – which means BAG SALE! The Center will be selling nice used clothing, fabric and craft yarn by the bag on Saturday May 3rd from 9:00 to 2:00 in the downstairs of the Center.
During the month of May at the Center’s Tuesday Night Music, there will be pie and ice cream for sale to satisfy your sweet tooth and help support the Center. And on the 6th of May starting at the top of the batting order is Andre and the Strawberry Mountain Band. And as regular as the sun setting in the west, music starts at 7:00 and wraps up by 9:00. And everyone is welcome.
The answer to last week’s “Remember When” questions are two Gales: Gale Storm, star of My Little Margie and her own show; and Gale Gordon who played Principal Osgood Conklin on Our Miss Brooks. (And the winner of Saturday Breakfast is Nadine McCracken.)
This week how about one more “double your pleasure” set of questions where the answers have something in common. Who was the American actor and cultural icon born in 1933 and starred in only three films including the 1955 movie Rebel without a Cause? And who was a country music singer born in 1928, recorded the hit “Big Bad John”, and hosted his own variety show from 1963- 66 that helped bring country music into the mainstream? For five free Quilt Raffle tickets, e-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off in a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder with a pound of premium pork sausage.    
Well, it has been another week trying to stay grounded while the wind blows. Until we meet again, there comes a time when you realize you no longer need to keep score. 
“You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down.” Charlie Chaplin 
Wednesday (30) Roasted Pork and Gravy
Thursday (1) Spaghetti with Meat Sauce 
Friday (2) Lemon Pepper White Fish 
Monday (5) Salisbury Steak
Tuesday (6) Meat Loaf with Au-Gratin Potatoes

Aging Well April 22nd 2014

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What do you want? Have you really thought about it? After the 2007 movie “Bucket List” was released, many folks made their own list of things they wanted to accomplish before they died. And that is a start. But there is much more to consider than what you want to do. How do you want to live and where? Near friends, family, someplace warm in the winters? How do you want to be treated by your health care providers? Who do you want to make health decisions for you if you are unable? What do you want your loved ones to know?
Often we are too busy taking care of our own immediate concerns – like trying to maintain our own bodies; or helping others such as loved ones, friends or volunteering in the community, to seriously consider these kinds of questions.
If you haven’t started considering what you want in this broader sense, the next two 11:00 Tuesday Lectures can help. On the 29th, I will show a video produced by the SCAN Foundation with Dr. Bruce Chernof discussing the “Ten Things You Should Know about Aging with Dignity and Independence”. Topics that will be covered include how to initiate conversations with your family about your wishes, questions for your doctor, knowing when to ask for help and much more. Then on the following Tuesday, May 6th, Dr. PK Swartz will explain Advance Directives, POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) and Organ and Tissue Donations.  .
From these two presentations you will learn more about some of the tools to help you maintain control of your own life, improve the quality of your care, and live with greater independence and dignity as you age.
Here’s another scam you can put in your long term memory bank. Helen Lynch, who seems to be a magnet for telephone scams, shared with me the latest one she just received. She was called by an alleged computer company (often they mention Windows or Microsoft) asking her to turn on her computer to make a correction. But she can smell a scam ten call centers away, and after she played along for a while, she hung up. As Helen did, never allow anyone access to your computer. As the Better Business Bureau points out, allowing a stranger access to your computer is like inviting a stranger into your house, letting them snoop around and take whatever they want before they leave. To learn more about this scam and others, go to the Center’s website www.midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com and click on the tab Scam Alerts.
As part of the Cherry Festival activities, the Center will again host a Cherry Festival Breakfast on the 26th sponsored by the Center’s good neighbors to the north – Cherry Heights Retirement Community. Breakfast will be served a half hour early starting at 7:30 – for the early risers preparing for the parade, and will stay open until the parade starts at 10:00. The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage along with fruit and your favorite morning beverage. On a busy parade day, why bother making breakfast when it can be waiting and ready for you at the Center. $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 and under.
The Dufur Boys aren’t in the Center’s regular rotation of bands, but we try to schedule them for the fifth Tuesdays which fortunately will be this coming Tuesday on the 29th. As usual the music starts at 7:00 PM and concludes by 9:00 PM. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.  
“We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds,” was announced at the opening of the soap opera Another World which ran on NBC for 35 years. (And the winner of a Cherry Festival Breakfast on April 26th is Alice Mattox.)  
For this week, here’s another “double your pleasure” set of “Remember When” questions with the two answers having something in common. What actress and singer starred in two television series, My Little Margie as well as her own show; and what actor started his career in radio and then appeared on television in Our Miss Brooks and The Lucy Show? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a 45 recording of the 1955 hit song “I Hear You Knocking”.   
Well, it has been another week making the best of what I got. Until we meet again, don’t let what you can’t do nothing about, bother you.

 “Trust that little voice in your head that says “Wouldn’t it be interesting if …” And then do it.” Duane Michals – Photographer

Aging Well April 15th 2014

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments
Over the last six year since I turned sixty, I have found getting older is a series of adventures: never knowing what to expect next. And I never knew how many of those adventures would have to do with this body of mine: the occasional broken hip, incapacitating dizzy spells; hearing loss (my hearing in one ear is so bad it doesn’t need a hearing aid so hearing aids are half the price!), a nose that springs a leak without any warning – foretelling things to come?, anxiety dreams about forgetting words during conversations – do I need to go on?
And even though the body isn’t always cooperative, there are advantages to growing older. Really. I can take a mid-day nap without anyone raising an eyebrow; I feel entitled and sometimes even compelled to give unsolicited advice about life to fortysomethings; if I forget or misplace something, I am excused because, you know, older folks are like that; and I have learned so much about health problems I could start my own medical practice.
I am sure there are still many more adventures left – some good and some I wish I could avoid. But with the many role models I see every day who are my guides showing me the cliffs to avoid and the mountains to climb, I am looking forward to the making the best of the many years ahead. 
The Center hasn’t scheduled any trips yet, but most every month, Community Education Services of the Hood River School District offers a Mystery Trip usually on the third Wednesday of the month. The mystery and the fun is that no one except the bus driver knows where you are going. But the trip always includes some kind of adventure plus lunch for only $40.00. The bus leaves from the LDS Church parking lot in Hood River at 9:00 and returns by 4:00. The next trip is scheduled for May 21st. To register call Hood River Community Ed at 541-386-2055 or email them at community.ed@hoodriver.k12.or.us. 
At every one of the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture at the Center, I guarantee you will learn something new and useful. For example, last Tuesday, Ann Stanley from Gorge Spine and Sports Medicine explained that in order to reduce your risk of falling you need to not only work on balance, but also improve your strength, flexibility and endurance. There are many places where you can do that such as The Fitness and Court Club, Water’s Edge, and at the Center which offers the Chair Yoga, Seniorcise, Tai Chi and Strong Women classes.  
As a part of the Tuesday Lectures, the Center with the help of Joyce Powell Morin and MCMC, has lined up a Fourth Tuesday Spring Lecture Series called “You and Your Health” focusing on health issues facing older adults. On April 22nd, Nicole Clark, an Acupuncturist at Water’s Edge, will explain the many ways acupuncture can improve your health; on May 27th, Andy Roof, physical therapist, will discuss how to manage living with persistent pain; and on June 23rd James Petrusich, audiologist, will explain what you can do about hearing loss.  
Okay, you had a week’s break so now it is time to start working out again at the cerebral gym. See if you can decipher this week’s music announcement for the Center.  
.detaicerppa syawla era snoitanod ,no sthgil eht dna def snaicisum eht peek ot dnA .00:9 ta sdne gnicnad eht dna 00:7 ta strats cisum ,00:6 ta nepo srood ehT .neewteb ni erehwemos ro dlo ro gnuoy era uoy rehtehw – detivni si enoyrevE .setirovaf yrtnuoc rieht gniyalp kcab eb lliw syoB eocmiS eht dn22 lirpA yadseuT no retneC eht tA 
The name of the automobile that was every young man’s dream fifty years ago was the Ford Mustang. (And the winner of a Cherry Festival Breakfast on April 26th is Lyn Dalton.)  
For this week’s “Remember When” question let’s again go back fifty years to May of 1964 when this daytime soap opera debuted on NBC and ran through 1999. What was the name of the show that for fifteen years  was NBC’s highest rated soap opera, and included the plot line of a love triangle with  businessman Steve Frame, schemer Rachel Davis and the more sophisticated Alice Mathews. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a stamped envelope postmarked from the town of Bay City.   
Well, it has been another week realizing once again, I don’t really have a clue. Until we meet again, laugh, love and enjoy every sandwich.   

“You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.” Warren Buffett 

Aging Well April 8th

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments
How many times do you hear of new products or research findings that will help you live longer? Take this pill or that, eat less fat and more fiber, hit the gym, and lift those weights.
But many folks ignore it all because they believe when their time is up, there ain’t nothing you can do about it. So why change old habits. “Que Sera, Sera. Whatever will be, will be”.
But in many ways the focus on living longer is not really the point. More importantly, the reason you should consider eating better, moving and stretching more, and exploring new possibilities is to enjoy the years you have left – no matter how many there are. Or to paraphrase “It’s not to add years to your life, but to enjoy the life in your years”.
These latter years are not a mere holding pattern – riding an antique Piper Cub going nowhere as it circles for its last and final landing. But a time to play with the grandchildren, write your life history, learn to use a smartphone, or even meet a new love and dance the night away. So consider what you can do to stay as healthy and active as possible in order to enjoy “the life in your years”.
I often mention the various activities and programs at the Center, but there are other services the Center offers that are often overlooked.

At the top of the list is the Center’s loan closet: used medical equipment to borrow for any length of time for a small donation. But we can only lend what has been donated. And currently the Center is in need of wheelchairs, commodes, and transfer benches. But we do have walkers, crutches, canes (including quad canes), and a few toilet seat risers.

You may be thinking of downsizing or “de-cluttering” and that often includes confidential documents. Gorge Security Shred (541-490-7078) will be happy to make arrangements to pick up your documents. But if you have smaller amounts, less than twenty pounds, you can drop them off in the secure container at the Center for a donation of forty cents a pound. Or you can catch Gorge Security Shred around noon, most every Friday when they stop by the Center.
The Center also received a donation of large print books that are now available to borrow. And the Center has a collection of old classic movies to loan – mostly VHS from John Wayne to the Marx Brothers.  

And lastly, if you have any questions about services for older adults from phone numbers for Legal Aid to in-home care options, give the Center a call. I won’t guarantee we will have all the answers, but if we don’t, we will do our best to direct you to the right place.

With the Uplifting Elevator fundraising campaign in full swing, I was asked what happened to the donations made during the previous fundraising campaign in ‘08 to build the more expansive addition. I can report all of those donations, totaling nearly $35,000, have been saved. And with the approximately $10,000 raised in the new Uplifting Elevator campaign, we are almost halfway to the $100,000 needed for the local match requested by foundations to show community support for the project. Thanks to everyone who has contributed over the years to help make it possible to install an elevator at the Center.

As I promised, the Center’s music announcement is straight with no chaser. At the Center on Tuesday April 15th, Truman will be playing his Country Gold, Silver and Bronze. The doors open at 6:00, music starts at 7:00 and you can be in your car with your gal leaving for the drive-in by 9:00. Open to everyone and donations are always appreciated.
The comedian who was a child actor, a radio show regular during the 30’s and 40’s, and known as Mr. Television was (Uncle Miltie) Milton Berle. (And the winner of a Cherry Festival Breakfast is Evelyn Uhalde.) 
Okay, this may be another easy one, but it’s timely. What was the name of the automobile, first of its kind introduced 50 years ago in April of 1964, that was affordable (base price $2368), and compact with a sporty image. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with the James Bond movie Goldfinger in which the car appeared.
Well, it has been another week trying to make heads or tails of the ups and downs of life. Until we meet again, keep searching for the new and novel, while savoring the old and reliable.

“There is only one alternative to getting older, so suck it up.”m Whoopi Goldberg